Detective Comics (Vol. 1) 452 Original Cover Art

Detective Comics (Vol. 1) #452 Cover Original Art (DC, October 1975). Ernie Chan (also attributed as Ernie Chua, which I believe was his real name) had quite the run on both Detective and Batman in the 70's, penciling and inking a number of covers and interiors. This cover is a fine example of his work, with Batman surrounded by thugs, all pointing guns at him, while the cloaked leader of the Crime Exchange taunts him in the background on a large screen. The cover depicts a later scene in the main Batman story ("Crackdown on the Crime Exchange") where Batman has until the count of 5 to take the gun to defend himself before he is shot (an also ironic take on the Batman won't use a gun schtick). Batman is depicted as both strong and conflicted while the enemies menacingly look on. The picture does not do justice to the details in the art, particularly the definition of Bat's muscles, his expression, and the way the cape flows. The leader of the Crime Exchange just looks plain evil as well. Chan had a great way of capturing gritty realism in his own style. Created in ink over graphite on standard Bristol board, with an image size of 11" X 17". Signed in the lower right corner as "EC".